Zenit St Petersburg have said they will reject demands from supporters groups
that they only field all-white heterosexual players.

A group of Zenit St Petersburg supporters, who may face Premier League opposition in the Europa League in February, have called for all non-European and “sexual minorities” to be barred from playing for the club.

"We object to representatives of sexual minorities playing for Zenit,” said the letter published on Landscrona.ru.

"We are not racists and for us, the lack of black players at Zenit is only an important tradition, which emphasises the identity of the club and nothing more.

“Zenit has its own identity in the world of football, along with a number of football clubs that have retained their own identity.

"As the most northern club of the major European cities, we have never been associated with Africa, South America or Australia and Oceania.

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"We have absolutely nothing against the people of these and any other continent. But now black players are being imposed on Zenit almost by force.”

Zenit are the only top flight Russian club to have never signed a black African.

However, director of sports Dietmar Beiersdorfer on Tuesday insisted that this is entirely coincidental.

"We make our player selections without any limitation regarding origin, religion or skin colour," Beiersdorfer said. "Our club's goal is to win the Russian championship and to be highly competitive in international competitions as well.

"We have absolutely no policy in Zenit of limiting our player selection in any superficial way.

Zenit St Petersburg head coach Luciano Spalletti, meanwhile, added that he believes in "tolerance" and promised the club would support initiatives to combat xenophobia and racism.

"Tolerance for me is most of all the ability to understand and accept differences. Furthermore, being tolerant means that you fight against any kind of stupidity."

"The club will support such initiatives and use every opportunity to contribute to this work," Spalletti said. "I can personally assure you that I will do everything I can to help those who seek to explain to people what tolerance is, and the need to respect other cultures and traditions.

"I think that Zenit has proven through its work that the club understands what tolerance is, and what it means to have tolerant behaviour. The team has gathered players from different countries and ethnic groups who work together to achieve a common goal, and work well.

"Their combined efforts bring tangible results. We've all worked together to achieve important results."